Rangers win 2026 Memorial Cup

Steve Dunsmoor/CHL

For the first time since 2003, the Kitchener Rangers are Memorial Cup champions.

The Rangers defeated Landon DuPont and the Everett Silvertips 6-2 in Sunday's championship game in Kelowna. The first half of the contest was close but the Rangers blew it open with a pair of power play goals early in the third period.

It's the third Memorial Cup title for the Rangers franchise, who also won their first OHL championship since 2008.

Sam O'Reilly, who won the Memorial Cup with the London Knights last year, was named tournament MVP.

Captain Cameron Reid hoists the #MemorialCup as the @OHLRangers are crowned 2026 champions! pic.twitter.com/KVPxOkPBpY

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 1, 2026

Kitchener's coaching staff includes Brad Flynn, the son of former Sea Dogs head coach Danny Flynn.

It's the third straight Memorial Cup title for the OHL. The WHL, meanwhile, still haven't won a national championship since the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014.

The QMJHL's Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1-3-0) finish the tournament third overall while the host Kelowna Rockets (0-2-1) finish fourth. The Rockets were outscored 12-2.

Next year's tournament will take place in Guelph while the QMJHL will host in 2028.

Plenty of questions facing Sea Dogs

It's been a quiet off-season for the Saint John Sea Dogs – but it appears that is about to change in a big way.

Mikaël Lalancette of Le Soleil reported Sunday that Jim Hulton will be Saint John's new head coach while the team will also trade for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies goaltender Samuel Meloche.

Des grosses nouvelles en rafale dans ma chronique:

- Jim Hulton dirigera les Sea Dogs;
- Mateo Nobert s’en va à Halifax;
- L’Armada choisira au 3e rang vendredi;
- Samuel Meloche à Saint-Jean.

Les détails:https://t.co/LeahfBGSFK

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 31, 2026

Hulton left the Charlottetown Islanders last week "to pursue new opportunities" while Meloche is projected to be one of the league's top goaltenders in 2026-27.

Solidifying coaching and goaltending are just a couple of the many questions facing the Sea Dogs this off-season. Here's a look at some of the questions that will be answered this week and in the months ahead.

Who will coach the Sea Dogs?

This is the biggest and most important question facing the Sea Dogs this off-season. As we've seen over the past decade, a roster full of stars will only go so far. The right coach (and coaching staff) is essential to making this thing click.

Ideally, a head coach would have already been in place at this point in the off-season. But, as we've seen in the past, the Sea Dogs do not rush this process. Here's when the last four head coaches were named (note that some of the dates are odd due to COVID):

Josh Dixon - hired Sept. 8, 2017

Greg Gilbert - hired June 19, 2020

Gordie Dwyer - hired Aug. 4, 2021

Travis Crickard - promoted Aug. 5, 2022

Assuming the Hulton hiring does end up happening – what a get for Saint John. Hulton, a two-time QMJHL coach of the year, is well known for getting his teams to play two-way hockey and there is certainly a need for a coach that can get this group to commit to a system and play better defensively.

Notebook: Sea Dogs returning to St. Stephen

The Saint John Sea Dogs are returning to St. Stephen it appears.

St. Stephen's Garcelon Civic Center has shared on Facebook that the venue will host the Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats in a QMJHL pre-season game on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The Sea Dogs and Wildcats faced off in St. Stephen last year as well. Moncton won the game 4-1.

The Sea Dogs are 1-2-0-0 in pre-season play at the Garcelon Civic Center.

TRADE PERIODS

From Jeremy Fraser of the Cape Breton Post, here's when you could see player movement this week.

QMJHL Trade Periods for Entry Draft Week:

- Tuesday, June 2 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- Thursday, June 4 - 8:30-9:30 a.m.

- Friday, June 5 - During the draft.

- Saturday, June 6 - During the draft.

Note: The times indicated are Atlantic Time. #qmjhl #lhjmq

— Jeremy Fraser (@CBPost_Jeremy) May 30, 2026

LATVIA DONE IN QUARTERS

Olivers Murnieks and Team Latvia had their IIHF World Championship come to an end in the quarterfinals on Thursday, falling 2-0 to Norway.

Murnieks did not play in the game.

The Sea Dogs forward appeared in five of Latvia's eight games and was held pointless.

Finland will take on Switzerland in the gold medal game while Canada will play Norway for bronze.

Saguenéens eliminated in Memorial Cup semi

Steve Dunsmoor/CHL

For a third straight year, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League had a disappointing showing at the Memorial Cup.

The QMJHL champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens fell 6-1 to the Everett Silvertips in Friday's semifinal. The game was tight early on but, once Everett got rolling, there was no looking back. The Silvertips scored three times in the middle frame while Landon Dupont was named player of the game with a pair of goals.

Everett, playing in their first Memorial Cup, will face the OHL champion Kitchener Rangers in Sunday's championship game. The Silvertips will try and capture the WHL's first Memorial Cup title since 2014.

The Saguenéens head home with a 1-3-0 record. Their lone win came in overtime against the winless host Kelowna Rockets.

Not having overage defenseman Jordan Tourigny, who played with the Shawinigan Cataractes at the 2022 Memorial Cup in Saint John, was less than ideal for Chicoutimi. Tourigny was suspended for the remainder of the tournament for this play against Kitchener.

Since the Quebec Remparts hoisted the Memorial Cup in 2023, no QMJHL team has made it past the semifinals. That Remparts win was the last of four straight Memorial Cup championships for the QMJHL.

Les Silvertips d'Everett ont rendez-vous avec les Rangers de Kitchener en finale de la Coupe Memorial, dimanche soir, une troisième consécutive sans formation de la LHJMQ.

Une première depuis 2010.

Depuis 2023, la fiche de la Q est de 1-12 vs #WHL et #OHL dans le tournoi.

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 30, 2026

The host Rockets, meanwhile, went 0-2-1 and were outscored 12-2. While host teams have had success recently (Saginaw in 2024 and Saint John in 2022), it continues to feel like we're at a point where the format really needs to be looked at, especially if the the way teams build is changing with the new NCAA rules.

The good news for Kelowna: every game has been announced as a sell out.

Next year's tournament will take place in Guelph.

Hulton departs Islanders

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The era of Hulton Hockey in Charlottetown is over.

The Charlottetown Islanders announced Thursday that head coach and general manager Jim Hulton is leaving the organization "to pursue new opportunities."

Hulton has been behind the Islanders bench since the 2015-16 season, playing a major role in turning Charlottetown into a credible junior hockey franchise following the woeful PEI Rocket days.

Under Hulton, the Islanders reached the third round of the QMJHL playoffs four times and played in the 2022 league final, losing to the Shawinigan Cataractes.

He was named QMJHL coach of the year in 2021 and 2022. He was also named CHL coach of the year in 2022.

A letter to Charlottetown from Coach Hulton pic.twitter.com/qlU3JHxeIG

— Charlottetown Islanders (@IslandersHKY) May 28, 2026

“Jim Hulton has been the face of our franchise for over a decade,” said Charlottetown Islanders board chair Dave Trainor in a news release. “His professionalism, leadership, and passion for the game helped elevate this organization. More importantly, Jim became a true pillar in our community and represented our franchise with tremendous class every single day. We are incredibly thankful for everything Jim has done for the Charlottetown Islanders and we wish him, Kristina, Jimmy & Lucas nothing but the best as he explores new opportunities.”

The Islanders always played a defensively strong, gritty style under Hulton. As the team's release notes, "‘Hulton Hockey’ became known for a relentless compete level, resilience, and commitment to playing for one another."

This could really change the way the Islanders play and how they are built. Under Hulton, it seemed like the team was in need of high end scoring nearly every season – maybe the next era of Charlottetown hockey could be built around offensive players, who knows. The team also never really went into traditional rebuild cycles, something they'll perhaps look at now – especially considering the team was good plenty of times but never quite great enough to win a league title.

According to the Islanders, they "will start the process to fill the vacancy."

Adding some complexity to this is the timing. The QMJHL Entry Draft is next week in Halifax.

Report: Lacelle to play NCAA hockey next season

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Next week's QMJHL trade period completely changed on Wednesday.

Mikaël Lalancette of Le Soleil was first to report the bombshell news that 18-year-old goaltender William Lacelle will play NCAA hockey next season. Lacelle was likely to be the most sought after – and expensive – goaltender on the QMJHL's trade market.

The decision is a big blow to the Rimouski Oceanic, who were set to negotiate and receive the return for Lacelle, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada confirmed recently. That return was likely to be significant.

The Oceanic traded Lacelle to the Armada on Jan. 5 for Rafaël Cloutier, a fifth-round pick in 2026, a first-round pick in 2027 and a first-round pick in 2028.

Grosse nouvelle #LHJMQ:

Le gardien William Lacelle a décidé de quitter pour la NCAA dès cette année.

Les détails:https://t.co/Or6NjIpa01

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 27, 2026

Lacelle went 13-7-1 with the Armada in the regular season and posted a 2.11 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. He also had a 10-5 record in the playoffs to go along with a 2.83 GAA and .909 SV%, helping the Armada reach the league semifinals.

There are a few things to take in here:

• The price for other goaltenders on the QMJHL trade market has suddenly become higher. At the same time, teams looking to trade for Lacelle suddenly have quite a few assets they can use to make other moves. This changes a lot.
• Behind the scenes, maybe there had been some warnings about this potentially happening. But, in public at least, this seems to have happened very suddenly – and is further proof of the challenges that come from the new NCAA/CHL landscape. This is an overly simplified way of putting it, but just about anyone could leave at any time. The way teams plan out their cycles is going to have to change.
• You have to wonder if the uncertainty around players leaving the CHL will change the way the QMJHL's infamous "futures" trades work. There could obviously be conditions added to deals, but it does add a layer of complication that maybe some teams would prefer to not get involved with. We'll see.
• This is a blow for the QMJHL (and CHL). You want to see players develop the best they can with the paths available to them, but you also want to see the best players playing in the league as much as possible.

Lacelle is expected to join the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks of the NCHC for the 2026-27 season. He is eligible and will likely be picked in this year's NHL Draft.

The 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft takes place June 5-6 in Halifax.

Latvia advances at IIHF World Championship

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Olivers Murnieks and Team Latvia have advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

Latvia finished third in Group A with a 4-3-0 record for 12 points, one-point better than the United States. The Latvians crossover to play Norway, who finished second in Group A with a 5-1-1 record for 15 points.

Murnieks played in five of Latvia's seven games in the preliminary round, going pointless with a -2 rating. 

This is the first World Championship for Murnieks who has played for Latvia at the U16, U18 and U20 levels. The Saint John Sea Dogs forward is eligible for this year's NHL Draft.

Former Sea Dogs forward Samuel Dove-McFalls, meanwhile, has had his tournament come to an end. Germany finished one-point back of the United States, meaning they didn't qualify for the playoff round.

The Germans went 3-3-1 for 10 points.

Dove-McFalls, who is listed as both a Canadian and German citizen by Elite Prospects, played in all seven of Germany's games and recorded a goal and an assist.

Former #SJSeaDogs forward Sam Dove-McFalls nets his first #MensWorlds goal in Germany's 6-2 win over Hungary!#GoDogsGo | #SeaDogsAlumnipic.twitter.com/B0BitDZdDn

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) May 22, 2026

The 29-year-old has spent the past three seasons playing in Germany, including the past two with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL's top division.

All four quarterfinals will be played on Thursday. The other games will see Canada taking on the United States; Finland facing Czechia and Switzerland taking on Sweden.

Notebook: Fullerton to UNB

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Angelo Fullerton has committed to play with the UNB Reds next season.

“We’re very excited to land Angelo at UNB,” said Reds head coach Rob Hennigar in a news release. “He had a big year with the Sea Dogs and had a lot of interest not just in U SPORTS but also from down south. His size and desire to compete every night make him a key addition to our group.”

Fullerton spent his overage season with the Saint John Sea Dogs and posted career highs in goals (27), assists (19) and points (46) in 61 games. He also recorded two goals in four playoff games.

The Quispamsis native spent most of his QMJHL career with the Cape Breton Eagles. In 217 career games in the league, Fullerton recorded 46 goals and 40 assists.

“This past season saw Angelo shine with Saint John, and in a bigger role,” said Hennigar. “His confidence grew and he proved that he could not only play hard every night but also produce at a high level. We think he’s just scratching the surface as to what he can do.”

Fullerton, who will study business at UNB, is the team's first announced recruit for the 2026-27 season.

Last season, UNB's roster included former Sea Dogs Peter Reynolds, Nick Blagden and Leighton Carruthers.

SEA DOGS STATEMENT

The Sea Dogs shared the above statement on Tuesday following the death of Wildcats owner Robert Irving.

Irving purchased the Wildcats in 1996 and his involvement in the league played a major role in the expansion of the QMJHL into Atlantic Canada.

Armada GM: Lemieux to be traded to Saint John

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The Saint John Sea Dogs are expected to acquire veteran forward Olivier Lemieux from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Armada general manager Olivier Picard confirmed the deal on Wednesday during the club's very transparent end-of-season press conference.

Olivier Picard vient de l’annoncer, Olivier Lemieux passera aux @SJSeaDogs au repêchage LHJMQ.

Un choix de 5e ronde passera à l’@ArmadaBLB.

— Cédrik Blondin (@cedrikblondin) May 20, 2026

The deal will likely be officially announced when the trade period opens ahead of the QMJHL Entry Draft in June.

The Sea Dogs made a number of moves with the Armada during the holiday trade period, sending depth forwards Elliot Dubé and Jacob Beaulieu to Blainville-Boisbriand while acquiring defenseman Bo Damphousse and goaltender Arseni Radkov.

Lemieux, who will turn 20 in November, is coming off a solid playoff run with the Armada that saw him post eight goals and four assists in 17 games. He finished third on the team in goals.

Originally a third-round pick of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft, Lemieux spent parts of two seasons with the Drakkar before being moved to the Armada during the 2023-24 season. This past season he recorded career highs in goals (16), assists (22) and points (38).

Here's where Saint John will (currently) pick at the QMJHL Entry Draft

Vincent Ethier/QMJHL

The Saint John Sea Dogs are currently scheduled to pick three times in the first two rounds of this year's Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Entry Draft.

The QMJHL website has added the full draft order. At the moment, the Sea Dogs will select twice in the first-round – fifth and 15th overall – and again in the second-round at 32nd overall.

Here is where Saint John is currently scheduled to pick:

1st round, 5th overall

1st round, 15th overall (BLB)

2nd round, 32nd overall (DRU)

6th round, 95th overall

7th round, 113th overall

8th round, 131st overall

9th round, 149th overall

10th round, 167th overall

11th round, 185th overall

12th round, 203rd overall

12th round, 210th overall (SHA)

Saint John made two picks in the first-round last year, selecting forwards Alexis Joseph first overall and Nolann Héroux 10th. They picked three times in the opening round of the 2024 draft, landing forwards William Yared at No. 5 and Dylan Rozzi at No. 8 along with defenseman Cameron Chartrand at No. 19.

The 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft will take place June 5-6 at Halifax's Scotiabank Centre. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies will pick first followed by the Victoriaville Tigres, Halifax Mooseheads and Shawinigan Cataractes. 

There's a ton of different directions the Sea Dogs could take things on draft weekend. We'll see what happens as things get closer.

Murnieks, Dove-McFalls playing at men's worlds

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Two players with Saint John Sea Dogs connections are playing in this year's IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

Current Sea Dogs forward Olivers Murnieks – who won't turn 18 until July 31 – is playing with Latvia while former Dog Samuel Dove-McFalls is playing with Germany.

The two faced off on Sunday where Latvia defeated Germany 2-0. Dove-McFalls played 13:58 and had one shot on goal while Murnieks played 8:15 and was held off the scoresheet.

So far in the tournament, both have been held pointless.

Latvia is 1-1-0 at the event so far while Germany is is 0-3-0. Here's a look at the preliminary round schedule for both:

Latvia

May 16 vs Switzerland (4-2 loss)

May 18 vs Germany (2-0 win)

May 19 vs Austria

May 21 vs Finland

May 23 vs United States

May 24 vs Great Britain

May 26 vs Hungary

Germany

May 15 vs Finland (3-1 loss)

May 17 vs Latvia (2-0 loss)

May 18 vs Switzerland (6-1 loss)

May 20 vs United States

May 22 vs Hungary

May 23 vs Austria

May 25 vs Great Britain

Murnieks has played for Latvia at the under-20, under-18 and now the men's level all in one season. In 31 regular season games with Saint John, he posted seven goals and 13 assists. He didn't appear in many second half games or any playoff matches because of a concussion. He was able to play in the under-18 worlds in April and the men's worlds this month – tournaments that should help his stock for this summer's NHL Draft.

Dove-McFalls, meanwhile, completed his third season in Germany and second in the DEL's top division. In 50 games with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers, the 29-year-old recorded 23 goals and 20 assists.

Dove-McFalls, who is listed as a Canadian and German citizen on Elite Prospects, spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs and helped the team win the QMJHL title in 2017. He also played four seasons at UNB after completing his junior career.

The men's worlds conclude on May 31.

Notebook: Wildcats honour Boutilier

MONCTON - Paul Boutilier was honoured before Game 5 of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League final on Friday at Avenir Centre.

The Moncton Wildcats held a moment of silence for Boutilier. It was announced on Thursday that the 63-year-old, who had been a defensive consultant with the Wildcats for the past two seasons, had passed away.

Before the game, the @monctonwildcats observed a moment of silence in memory of Paul Boutilier, who passed away yesterday. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/pSYKUY9rAo

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 15, 2026

After the game, Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall began his press conference with some words on Boutilier. The two worked together during Saint John's 2022 Memorial Cup run before teaming up again in Moncton.

''He's kind of a trailblazer for the defensive part of the game''

With his usual grace, Gardiner MacDougall paid a heartfelt tribute to the Paul Boutilier, the QMJHL and NHL Alumni who passed away 🕊️ @monctonwildcats pic.twitter.com/OTOkbaiKDT

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 16, 2026

Boutilier was an assistant coach with the Sea Dogs for two seasons, helping the club capture the 2017 QMJHL championship.

Saltwire has a story on Boutilier's death, which includes some quotes from former Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young.

CAPITALS FALL IN FINAL

The host Summerside Western Capitals fell 4-1 to Manitoba's Niverville Nighthawks in the championship game of the Centennial Cup on Sunday.

The Nighthawks have only been around since the 2022-23 season and went 51-6-1 during the regular season. They went undefeated at the Centennial Cup, which included beating the Capitals twice.

Summerside outshot Niverville 35-20, including 12-3 in the third period.

The Capitals featured former Sea Dogs defenseman Matthew MacLean and goaltender Justin Robinson. This was the final game of junior hockey for the 20-year-old MacLean, who spent the past two seasons with the Sea Dogs.

MacLean finished the tournament with a goal and three assists in seven games. Robinson appeared in three games – including a couple minutes of Sunday's game – and allowed seven goals on 58 total shots.

Summerside was looking to win their second national championship and first since 1997 – a team that was coached by Gerard Gallant. An Atlantic Canadian team has not won the Centennial Cup since the Halifax Oland Exports in 2002.

Saguenéens win Gilles-Courteau Trophy

Vincent Éthier/QMJHL

For the first time since 1994, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens are Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champions.

The Saguenéens defeated the Moncton Wildcats 5-1 inside an electric Georges-Vezina Centre on Sunday to take the championship series in six games, ending the longest Gilles-Courteau Trophy drought in the QMJHL (32 years).

Chicoutimi controlled the first period and grabbed a 2-0 lead at 4:26 of the second when Liam Lefebvre scored. The Wildcats, who had struggled to get much of anything going offensively, were finally able to gain some momentum as the period moved along. Captain Caleb Desnoyers scored at 14:28 to get the Wildcats within one and it felt like the tides may be turning in Moncton's favour.

But all of Moncton's momentum was lost when Chicoutimi captain Emmanuel Vermette made it 3-1 Sags with 50 seconds remanning in the period.

Chicoutimi didn't let Moncton get back into the game at all in the third, winning puck battles and holding the Wildcats to very few scoring opportunities. The Sags added two empty net goals to make it a 5-1 final and get the party going in Chicoutimi.

Despite losing the series, Wildcats forward Gabe Smith was named QMJHL playoff MVP. The St. Andrews native posted 19 goals and 33 points in the playoffs.

This is the third QMJHL championship for the Saguenéens franchise. They were playing in their first QMJHL final since 1997.

Chicoutimi will now represent the QMJHL at the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna. Their first game will be Saturday against the WHL champion Everett Silvertips.

This was a heartbreaking series loss for the Wildcats who were aiming to become the first back-to-back QMJHL champion since the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2011 and 2012. That Game 5 loss on home ice – which saw them blow a 4-0 lead – is going to haunt a lot of people.

Moncton had one of the most entertaining playoff runs in recent history, featuring all kinds of dramatics. They now face an interesting off-season with the major question being: who is coming back?

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen was a -1 with three shots in Sunday's loss. He finishes the playoffs with three goals and nine assists in 21 games.

Capitals advance to Centennial Cup final

Mike Bernard/Hockey Canada

The Summerside Western Capitals will play for a national championship on home ice Sunday evening.

Former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Matthew MacLean scored and had an assist in the Capitals' 5-2 win over Collège Français de Longueuil on Saturday to earn a spot in the Centennial Cup championship game.

The Capitals will face Manitoba's Niverville Nighthawks for the national title. Game time is 7 p.m. at Summerside's Credit Union Place.

Summerside, who were eliminated in the semifinals of the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs, are 4-1-1 at the tournament. The Nighthawks, meanwhile, are 5-0-0.

#CentennialCup SF2 | And they’re from Prince Edward Island! Matthew MacLean puts the @SsideCapitals ahead 2-1 late in the 2nd! pic.twitter.com/9JVyffeQeP

— CJHL (@cjhlhockey) May 16, 2026

Niverville beat Summerside 5-4 in overtime in the preliminary round.

MacLean has a goal and three assists in the tournament. Former Sea Dogs goaltender Justin Robinson has appeared in two games, posting a 3.56 goals against average and a .879 save percentage.

The Capitals won the Centennial Cup in 1997 – a team that was coached by Gerard Gallant. They appeared in the championship game in 2013 – which was also hosted in Summerside – but fell 3-1 to the Brooks Bandits.

An Atlantic Canadian team has not won the Centennial Cup since the Halifax Oland Exports in 2002.

Saguenéens stun Wildcats in Game 6

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MONCTON - The unpredictability of high stakes junior hockey was on full display Friday.

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens scored six times in the third period to stun the Moncton Wildcats, winning 7-6 to take a 3-2 lead in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final. The Sags can win their first Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League championship since 1994 with a victory on home ice Sunday.

The only way to describe the final result on Friday night? Stunning. Moncton led 4-0 in the second period and were up 4-1 entering the third. Chicoutimi completely turned the tides in the final frame, scoring three times in the first 5:56 and adding two more on a four-minute power play to take a 6-4 advantage.

A deflated Wildcats team couldn't get much of anything going in the third until Gavin Cornforth got Moncton within one at 17:14. It looked as though Peteris Bulans iced the game with an empty net goal at 18:40 only for Kuzma Voronin to drag Moncton within one again with 37 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats would generate one final dangerous opportunity but couldn't convert.

The Wildcats were outshot 13-5 in the third period and 35-25 overall.

Bulans led the way for Chicoutimi with a hat trick while Nathan Lecompte, Liam Lefebvre, Mavrick Lachance and Maxim Schäfer added singles. Lucas Beckman made 19 saves in the win.

Teddy Mutryn, Rian Chudzinski, Gabe Smith and Niko Tournas also scored for Moncton. Rudy Guimond made 28 saves in the loss.

The Wildcats have rebounded from tough losses in these playoffs – and they'll need to do so again if they want to keep their season alive on Sunday.

Archambault joins Phoenix staff

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs will have an entirely different coaching staff behind the bench for the 2026-27 season.

It was announced Friday that assistant coach Tim Archambault has joined the Sherbrooke Phoenix staff for the upcoming season. He'll be an assistant coach with the Phoenix.

"Sea Dogs assistant coach Tim Archambault has accepted an opportunity to move closer to home and join the Sherbrooke Phoenix coaching staff," the Sea Dogs posted on social media. 

"Congratulations Tim, and best of luck in Sherbrooke!"

Archambault leaves the Sea Dogs after one season behind the bench. He was a Quebec regional scout with the Sea Dogs the season prior.

J'aimerais remercier Gilles Bouchard, ainsi que tous les membres de l'organisation du Phoenix de Sherbrooke pour cette opportunité. Je suis très enthousiaste de commencer ce nouveau défi! https://t.co/iIl6WxeE0d

— Tim Archambault (@TArchambaultPSL) May 15, 2026

Archambault stayed with the Sea Dogs following the departure of head coach Travis Crickard late in the season. Mark Lee, the team's other assistant, departed at the same time as Crickard.

Archambault remained an assistant with the team under interim head coach Brian Casey to finish out the 2025-26 season.

The only coach currently listed on Saint John's staff is director of hockey operations and assistant coach Kyle MacDonald, who completed his first season with the club. MacDonald was on the bench for a few games after Crickard's departure.

QMJHL final tied at 2-2

Bruno Girard/Chicoutimi Saguenéens

MONCTON - The Gilles-Courteau Trophy final is now a best-of-three.

The Moncton Wildcats overcame 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to defeat the Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4-3 on Wednesday night at Georges Vezina Centre, evening the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League championship series at 2-2.

Game 5 will take place Friday at Avenir Centre. Game 6 will be Sunday night back in Chicoutimi while a Game 7, if needed, would be Tuesday in Moncton.

The Wildcats scored three unanswered goals in Wednesday's win, which included two in the third period. Rian Chudzinski scored the winner at 14:15 of the third.

St. Andrews native Gabe Smith scored twice for Moncton. He continues to lead the QMJHL in playoff goals (18) and points (30).

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen was an impressive +3 in the victory. He had one assist and three shots.

A few other news and notes...

• Chicoutimi forward Maxim Massé, the QMJHL's MVP who recorded 51 goals in the regular season, has yet to score in this series against Moncton. He has six goals in 18 playoff games this year.
• This Chicoutimi/Moncton series has been living up to the hype with each of the past three games being decided by a goal.
• It's looking like Avenir Centre will be sold out for Friday's Game 5. The first two games of the series in Moncton had large crowds but were not at capacity.
• In the WHL final, the top-seeded Everett Silvertips have taken a 3-1 series lead over the Prince Albert Raiders. Game 5 is Friday night in Prince Albert.
• At the Centennial Cup, the Summerside Western Capitals will face the Truro Bearcats in quarterfinal play on Friday. Matthew MacLean, Justin Robinson and the Capitals were eliminated in Game 7 of the Maritime Junior Hockey League semifinals by the Bearcats.
• In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Joe Veleno and the Montreal Canadiens have taken a 3-2 series lead over the Buffalo Sabres thanks to a 6-3 win on Wednesday. Veleno had one shot and was a -1 in 9:56 of ice time. Game 6 is Saturday in Montreal.

Boutilier passes away at 63

Paul Boutilier, a former assistant coach and consultant with the Saint John Sea Dogs, has died. He was 63.

Boutilier, a Sydney, NS native, played in the QMJHL, worlds juniors and NHL before a lengthy coaching career.

From the NHL Alumni Association:

The NHL Alumni Association is deeply saddened to learn that Paul Boutilier has passed away at the age of 63.

A defenseman, Paul played major junior hockey with the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Castors beginning in 1980, and was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Paul made his NHL debut later that year, skating in his first career game on October 31, 1981, with the Islanders at the Montreal Forum, later returning to Sherbrooke for the remainder of the season.

Paul split time between the NHL and the QMJHL during the 1982-83 season, appearing in 29 games for the Islanders, and scored his first NHL goal on November 18, 1982, at home at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Playing in his final season of major junior hockey, Paul served as team captain for the newly relocated Saint-Jean Castors. Paul joined the Islanders for the 1983 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in two games as the Islanders captured the final of their four consecutive Stanley Cups. 

After 213 regular-season games with the Islanders from 1981 to 1986, Paul would go on to play for the Boston Bruins and Minnesota North Stars the following season, and later for the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, respectively.

From Sydney, Nova Scotia, Paul returned to his home province after the conclusion of his playing career, accepting a position as an assistant coach for Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, serving in the role from 1991 to 1993 before being promoted to head coach, a position he held until 1997.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Paul later served in a multitude of coaching and front office positions across the collegiate, junior, and professional levels of hockey.

Internationally, Paul proudly represented Canada on multiple occasions and at both the junior and senior levels, highlighted by a gold medal at the 1982 World Junior Hockey Championships.

We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time.

Boutilier spent a couple seasons behind the Sea Dogs bench as an assistant, helping the team win a QMJHL championship in 2017. He was hired again by Saint John as a defense consultant during the 2021-22 season, helping the club win the Memorial Cup on home ice.

Notebook: Veleno gets first playoff point

Embed from Getty Images

Joe Veleno recorded his first career NHL playoff point on Sunday.

Veleno registered an assist on a Zachary Bolduc goal in the Montreal Canadiens' 6-2 Game 3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Veleno played 12:18 in the game and also recorded one shot and five hits.

What is this pass from Logan Stanley pic.twitter.com/y2LE7mKtMq

— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) May 11, 2026

Veleno has played in all four games for the Habs in their second round series against the Sabres. This is his first career appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canadiens and Sabres are tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Thursday in Buffalo.

FLAMES SIGN ALCHORN

The Saint John Flames of the Beausejour Senior Hockey League have announced another signing with Sea Dogs connections.

Forward Zachary Alchorn will play for the team this fall. He was the second player to sign with the club after former Sea Dogs forward Nick Blagden.

According to Elite Prospects, Alchorn hasn't played competitive level hockey since the 2023-24 season when he appeared in 14 games with the Southern Senior Hockey League's River Valley Rock.

The Grand Bay-Westfield native spent most of his junior career with the St. Stephen Aces/Fredericton Red Wings franchise. He appeared in 16 games with the Sea Dogs during the COVID season of 2020-21, recording three goals and two assists. He added a goal and four assists in six playoff games.

Saguenéens take series lead with OT win

Bruno Girard/Chicoutimi Saguenéens

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens have taken a 2-1 series lead in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final.

Thomas Desruisseaux scored at 16:58 of overtime to give the Saguenéens a 5-4 win over the Moncton Wildcats on Tuesday night at Georges Vezina Centre.

Moncton forced overtime with two third period goals. Teddy Mutryn scored on a power play at 10:39 to cut Chicoutimi's lead to 4-3 and then sconnected again at 19:35 to tie things. The game-tying goal was a strange one as defenseman Tomas Lavoie and goaltender Lucas Beckman both misplayed a flip in.

Wow, miracle for @monctonwildcats ! 🙏

Another weird bounce workd in Teddy Mutryn's favor, who scores with 25 seconds left in the 3rd, and it's 4-4!

We're going to overtime! 🥵#QPlayoffs | #Proxi pic.twitter.com/n9cPwvNLcv

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 13, 2026

It was a strange night overall. Even the overtime goal was a weird one as it appeared as though Rudy Guimond had made a pad save – but after review it was apparent that Guimond's pad was below the goal line.

Voilà l’angle vidéo qui a mené au crédit du but gagnant à Thomas Desruisseaux ce soir. #FinaleLHJMQ2026 pic.twitter.com/5tR31iYem6

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 13, 2026

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen also scored a weird goal, which tied the game at 2-2 in the second period.

Trick shot 🎱 https://t.co/tBULAmnm0g pic.twitter.com/nMTmUT29YQ

— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) May 13, 2026

Moncton opened the scoring early in the first period but were playing from behind for much of the game. It wasn't until the third period and overtime that the Wildcats were able to control play for long stretches – play they'll hope to carry over into a pivotal Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Jordan Tourigny scored a pair of goals for Chicoutimi while singles came from Desruisseaux, Emile Guité and Christophe Berthelot. Beckman made 37 saves in the win – including 11 in overtime.

Simon Binkley also scored for Moncton. Rudy Guimond made 35 saves in the loss.

Saguenéens win Game 2 to even QMJHL final

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

MONCTON - Liam Lefebvre's goal with 3:08 remaining in the third period was the difference in Game 2 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final.

Lefebvre ripped a shot past Moncton Wildcats goaltender Rudy Guimond to give the Chicoutimi Saguenéens a late 3-2 lead. The Wildcats were unable to get organized in the final minutes and couldn't net an equalizer.

🗣️🔊 NON, CE N’EST PAS Alexander Ovechkin… MAIS BIEN LIAAAAM LEFEBVRE ! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IN3nZbW2wL

— Saguenéens (@SagueneensLHJMQ) May 10, 2026

The Game 2 victory by the Sags ties the QMJHL championship series up at 1-1. The series now shifts to Chicoutimi for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. 

In Saturday night's win, the Sags took a 2-1 lead early in the second period on an Alexis Bernier goal. The Wildcats tied it up at 2-2 at 8:05 when defenseman Evan Dépatie netted his third of the playoffs.

Jordan Tourigny had Chicoutimi's other goal. Lucas Beckman made 23 saves in the win.

Niko Tournas also scored for Moncton. Guimond made 17 saves in the loss.

This game felt like an extension of the second and third periods of Game 1. It was tight out there and it felt like the game was destined for overtime.

Wildcats take Game 1 of QMJHL final

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

MONCTON - A dominant first period carried the Moncton Wildcats to a 5-2 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in Game 1 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final on Friday.

The Wildcats scored three times and outshot the Sagueneens 16-5 in the opening frame. That included Caleb Desnoyers scoring just 20 seconds in.

Desnoyers scored and assisted on Moncton's other two first period goals. Gabe Smith scored twice for Moncton while Niko Tournas and Preston Lounsbury also connected. Goaltender Rudy Guimond made 26 saves in the win.

Wildcats defenseman Max Vilen is the lone former Saint John Sea Dog playing in the series. He took a puck to the ear late in the second period but would be okay. He finished the game a +3 with two shots.

The Sags improved in the final two minutes and certainly made the game tighter. It looked as though they may have tied it early in the third period but the goal was immediately waived off – and was again after a review – for goaltender interference.

Mavrick Lachance and Christophe Berthelot scored for Chicoutimi. Goaltender Lucas Beckman made 31 saves in the loss.

Moncton now leads the best-of-seven championship series 1-0. Game 2 of the series takes place Saturday night at Avenir Centre.

Wildcats looking to go back-to-back

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats are looking to do something no QMJHL team has done since the glory days of the Saint John Sea Dogs: win back-to-back championships.

The Wildcats advanced to a second straight league final following a Game 7 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Tuesday. Oddly enough, the Armada were the last team to play in back-to-back finals when they lost in both 2017 and 2018.

The Sea Dogs were the last team to win two straight QMJHL championships, winning in 2011 and 2012. Prior to that, no team had won back-to-back titles since the 2003 and 2004 Hull/Gatineau Olympiques.

Raising the Gilles-Courteau Trophy this season would give the Wildcats four QMJHL championships in their history – one better than the Sea Dogs.

The Wildcats, who have been around since the 1996-97 season (or 1995-96, depending on your perspective), have caught up to or surpassed the younger Sea Dogs franchise, who have been around since 2005-06, in a number of "key categories" over the past couple seasons.

	Moncton	Saint John
100-point seasons	6	4
Reg. season championships	3	4
QMJHL final appearances	5	4
QMJHL championships	3	3
Memorial Cup appearances	3	4
Memorial Cup final appearances	1	2
Memorial Cup championships	0	2

It's worth pointing out that the Wildcats had 101 points when the 2019-20 season was stopped due to COVID-19. The team was poised for a long playoff run that year.

Moncton has had three 100-point seasons since Saint John last won a playoff series in 2017.

Both this season and last, the Wildcats recorded over 100 points, finished first in the regular season standings and advanced to the league final. It's to be determined if they'll win the QMJHL title and earn a spot at the Memorial Cup – a tournament the franchise has struggled at.

Game 1 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final between the Wildcats and Chicoutimi Sagueneens takes place Friday night at Avenir Centre.

Notebook: Murnieks scores with Latvian national team

Ansis Ancovs/Latvian Ice Hockey Federation

It's been an eventful year for Olivers Murnieks at the international level.

The Saint John Sea Dogs forward played for Latvia at this year's World Junior Championship and the recent U18 World Championship. Now he's joined the Latvian men's team ahead of the IIHF World Championship – and scored in his debut.

#SJSeaDogs forward Olivers Murnieks made his debut with the Latvian national team today ahead of the #MensWorlds and had a goal in a 3-2 win over Norway!#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/emhwY2rwll

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) May 6, 2026

Latvia won the friendly 3-2 in overtime against Norway. 

Latvia's first game of the men's worlds is May 16 against Switzerland. 

Murnieks posted a goal and five assists in seven games at the U18 worlds, a tournament that may have given his NHL Draft stock a boost, writes Daily Faceoff. 

FINAL BEGINS FRIDAY

The Gilles-Courteau Trophy final begins Friday night at Avenir Centre.

The Moncton Wildcats will try to become the first team since the 2011 and 2012 Saint John Sea Dogs to win back-to-back QMJHL championships. It won't be easy though as they'll be facing a Chicoutimi Sagueneens team that finished just one point behind them in the regular season standings.

Wildcats defenseman Max Vilen is the lone former Sea Dog playing in the series. Vilen, who is on Moncton's second defensive pairing, has two goals and six assists in 15 playoff games.

Game 1 is Friday followed by Game 2 on Saturday. The series shifts to Chicoutimi for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. All games will air on TSN.

QMJHL Central Scouting releases final 2026 rankings

Vincent Éthier/QMJHL

Thomas Boisvert is QMJHL Central Scouting's top ranked player entering the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft.

CSR released its final rankings on Wednesday, producing two lists: one of Quebec and Atlantic players and another of Americans. We'll likely see a good amount of American players taken as more and more CHL players fill US college rosters.

Oddly enough, Boisvert spent this past season playing prep school hockey in the United States, recording over two points per game at Mount St. Charles Academy. He is a Trois-Rivieres native.

Notably, Boisvert wasn't selected until the 14th-round of this week's USHL Futures Draft, a sign that he is committed to playing in the QMJHL.

Forward Zaac Charbonneau, who was Boisvert's teammate this past season, was ranked third. He was tendered by the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks back in December.

Here's what QMJHL Central Scouting's top-five looked like.

1. F - Thomas Boisvert (Mount St. Charles)

2. F - Julien Bergeron (Châteauguay)

3. F - Zaac Charbonneau (Mount St. Charles)

4. F - Pierre-Alexandre Lemieux (Collège Esther-Blondin)

5. D - Vincent Boutet (Séminaire St-François)

The full ranking on Quebec and Atlantic players can be found here. The American list is here.

Six Americans were given an “A” rating as a potential first- or second-round pick: Logan Cotter, Robert Dekleine, Samuel Lee, John Queally, CJ Sawyer and Blake Wilichoski.

The Saint John Sea Dogs currently own the fifth and 15th overall picks in the first-round.

The 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft will take place at Halifax's Scotiabank Centre. The first-round will take place Friday, June 5 while the remaining 11 rounds will be held the following day.

Wildcats win Game 7 to advance to QMJHL final

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

MONCTON - For a second straight year, the Moncton Wildcats are headed to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League final.

Captain Caleb Desnoyers scored and added two assists to lift the Wildcats to a 6-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Game 7 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy semifinals on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats, the top seed entering the post-season, advance to the league final where they'll face the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, the No. 2 seed. The series is expected to start on Friday night at Avenir Centre.

It was far from a perfect performance by the the Wildcats – but it was enough to get the job done. Blainville-Boisbriand opened the scoring but never led again. The visitors were able to carry the play at times but it just wasn't enough to down the 'Cats.

Tommy Bleyl scored a pair of goals while Gavin Cornforth, Alex Mercier and Gabe Smith added singles. Rudy Guimond made 26 saves in the win.

Former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen was held of the scoresheet but did play some key minutes on Moncton's second defensive pairing.

Ludovik Grenier and Xavier Villeneuve scored for Blainville-Boisbriand. Zach Pelletier, who made a second straight start in place of the injured William Lacelle, made 27 stops in the loss.

The loss ends the seasons for former Sea Dogs forwards Jacob Beaulieu Elliot Dubé. Beaulieu was held off the scoresheet while Dubé had one shot.

The series will certainly be remembered for some time. The four overtime game. The benches emptying after Game 2. The Armada's last second heroics in Game 6 to force a winner-take-all game back in Moncton. The Wildcats likely would have preferred a smoother semifinal series – but what a series it was.

Things certainly don't get any easier for the Wildcats. The Sagueneens finished just one point behind them in the regular season standings and the two split the season series – both winning on the road. Like Moncton, Chicoutimi was undefeated in the playoffs until the semifinals where they needed six games to eliminate the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Moncton will be playing in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final for a second straight season. For Chicoutimi, this will be their first trip to the league final since 1997.

This was the anticipated championship matchup and has the makings of a classic league final. Now we'll see if it can live up to the hype.

Beausejour senior league coming to LBR

The Beausejour Senior Hockey League is coming to Saint John.

In a social media post on Sunday, it was announced that the "Saint John Flames" will be reborn and become a member of the popular senior circuit beginning this fall.

From the Saint John Flames Facebook page:

THE FLAMES ARE BACK 🔥 

Saint John hockey just got its identity back. We’re proud to announce the return of the Saint John Flames as the newest Sr. A team in the Beausejour Senior Hockey League. This isn’t just another team, this is history, culture, and community coming back to life in this city.

For generations, the Flames meant something here. Packed rinks, hard-nosed hockey, and a standard that never slipped. Now it’s our turn to bring that back and build something the city can rally behind again.

The team will play their home games at the Lord Beaverbrook Rink. A website has already been launched with an online merch store.

The BSHL has been steadily growing in popularity in recent years. This past season, the league ended its season with six teams: Amherst, Bouctouche, Dalhousie, Elsipogtog, Fredericton and Miramichi. The regular season began in mid-October and the playoffs ended in late March.

The league is loaded with former QMJHL players – including quite a few Saint John Sea Dogs alumni. Former Sea Dogs forward Ryan Tesink (Fredericton) and Dawson Stairs (Dalhousie) finished second and third, respectively, in league scoring.

The Flames will no doubt look to follow the same steps the Fredericton Express took this past season. Not only was the team very good on the ice, but the Express sold out most of their home games and had a real buzz around them. 

What does this mean for the Sea Dogs? While the Flames will likely build out their schedule to not overlap with Sea Dogs home games, this does give the Dogs some competition for the the attention and money of the city's hockey fans – and it's coming from just down the road at the LBR.

For Sea Dogs fans, this is likely a great thing. Fans get more hockey to watch (and, let's be brutally honest: hockey with fighting), former Sea Dogs will be in action frequently and it puts further pressure on the Dogs to put together a great product on and off the ice.

Armada stun Wildcats in final second to force Game 7; Sagueneens advance to final

Sebastien Gervais/Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

A Justin Carbonneau goal with 0.5 seconds remaining in regulation time has forced a Game 7 in the semifinal playoff series between the Moncton Wildcats and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

After a Bill Zonnon faceoff win in the offensive zone, Carbonneau ripped a perfectly placed shot top corner on Wildcats goaltender Rudy Guimond to give the Armada a 3-2 lead – their first and only lead of the game.

Justin Carbonneau, at the very last second!!! 😤😤😤
@ArmadaBLB wins 3-2 and forces a Game 7, tuesday in Moncton!#QPlayoffs | #Proxi | @StLouisBlues | #stlbluespic.twitter.com/Fo2972BO0y

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 3, 2026

Xavier Villeneuve had tied the game at 19:12 of the third period with goaltender Zach Pelletier – who got the start in place of the injured William Lacelle – on the bench.

In short, the Wildcats were 48 seconds away from advancing to the Gilles Courteau Trophy final. Now they're hading back to Moncton to prepare for a Game 7 on Tuesday night. It will be fascinating to see if this devastating loss impacts the Wildcats at all.

Maël Lavigne also scored for the Armada. He has scored in five of the six games in this series.

Former Saint John Sea Dogs forwards Jacob Beaulieu and Elliot Dubé did not register any points in the victory. Beaulieu had one hit while Dubé had one shot.

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen had one shot and was a +1 in the loss.

The winner of this series will take on the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the QMJHL's championship series. The Sags defeated the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 6-3 on Sunday to take the semifinal in six games. This will be Chicoutimi's first appearance in the league final since 1997.

Notebook: Murnieks, Latvia finish fourth at U18 worlds

Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Olivers Murnieks and Team Latvia finished fourth at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.

The Latvians fell 4-1 to Czechia in the event's bronze medal game on Saturday. On Friday, Latvia fell 1-0 to Slovakia in the semifinals, forcing them into the third-place game.

Murnieks had one shot and was a -2 in 21:08 of ice time – which led the team. He finished the tournament with a goal and five assists in seven games.

Following Friday's game, Murnieks was named one of Latvia's top three players of the tournament.

Sweden defeated host Slovakia 4-2 in the gold medal game.

Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph and defenseman Cameron Chartrand were part of Team Canada, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Sea Dogs draft pick Jamie Glance was a member of Team USA, who also fell in the quarterfinals.

CRICKARD MEETS MEDIA

Former Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard met with the Swift Current media via Zoom this past week.

Crickard was named the Broncos new head coach and general manager last Friday.

The Southwest Booster and Swift Current Online both have stories on the hiring. CTV also posted a couple videos.

Murnieks, Latvia to play for U18 bronze; Wildcats, Sagueneens a win away from final

Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF

MONCTON - Olivers Murnieks and Team Latvia will play for bronze at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.

Latvia, coming off a major upset of the United States in the quarterfinals, fell 1-0 to host Slovakia in semifinal play on Friday. The Latvians were outshot 22-14 in the loss.

Latvia will play Czechia in the bronze medal game on Saturday morning. Slovakia will take on Sweden for gold.

Murnieks had two shots and was a -1 in 22:18 of ice time – which was the second most on the team. The Saint John Sea Dogs forward has a goal and five assists in six games at the event.

Murnieks was named one of Latvia's best players of the tournament after the game.

Par labākajiem trīs Latvijas U-18 izlases hokejistiem atzīti Patriks Plūmiņš, Olivers Mūrnieks un Martins Klaucāns 🇱🇻#U18MensWorlds #hokejs pic.twitter.com/9DkHymQPdT

— Rems Ratņikovs (@HKJ_Apskatnieks) May 1, 2026

A few other Friday night news and notes...

• The Moncton Wildcats are a win away from returning to the QMJHL final for a second straight season. Teddy Mutryn and Tommy Bleyl each had a goal and two assists in Moncton's 6-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Friday at Avenir Centre.
• Niko Tournas, who scored 43 goals in the regular season, ended a seven-game goalless streak with a third period marker. He hadn't scored since Game 1 of the second round.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Jacob Beaulieu left the game briefly in the third period after taking a big hit along the boards. He did return to the game and was given an unsportsmanlike misconduct at 14:24 of the third period. Beaulieu finished a +1 and had three hits.
• Former Sea Dog Elliot Dubé, meanwhile, went 3/5 on faceoffs in the loss. Max Vilen had one assist and four shots for the Wildcats.
• Armada goaltender William Lacelle left the game in the third period with an apparent lower body injury. He had to be helped off the ice following Moncton's fifth goal.
• Three of the four officials – including both referees – that worked last Saturday's Armada/Wildcats game worked this game. Last Saturday's game ended with both benches emptying onto the ice for a lengthy gathering after the game.
• Game 6 is Sunday in Boisbriand.
• The Chicoutimi Sagueneens are also a win away from the QMJHL final after defeating the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4-0. Lucas Beckman stopped all 21 shots he faced in the shutout. Game 6 is Sunday in Rouyn-Noranda.